Physics Buskers return to Inverness Highland Games

The Institute of Physics

28 July 2008

Physics in the Field at Inverness Highland Games

Visitors to the Inverness Highland Games were ready for Tossing the Caber, Scots Hammer and athletics but were they prepared for Alka Seltzer rockets and balloon kebabs?

The Institute of Physics (IOP)’s Physics in the Field team set up their stall at the Inverness Highland Games this summer (19 July - 20 July), where they performed eye-catching physics tricks to an unsuspecting audience. Over 1000 people visited the stand in a steady stream. Sometimes the tricks attracted a large crowd and ours was one of the most popular stands at the Games.

Physics tricks are hand-held demonstrations using things that can be found at home. Some are messy, some are noisy, but all of them are crowd pleasing and help illustrate different areas of physics. Visitors were also encouraged to find out how to do the tricks themselves and give on-the-spot performances to their friends and families.

At the Physics in the Field event, one visitor revealed that “it was the best bit of the show”.  Another commented, “We have seen amazing wonders. Balloons that don’t pop! Volcanoes in tumblers!”

Alison McLure, national officer at IOP Scotland said, “It’s brilliant working with the visitors because they are really interested in what we are doing and want to find out more.”

“What is really satisfying is when you show someone a trick, and they relate it to something they have come across in everyday life – but just hadn’t thought of it as physics before.”

And for those visitors who can’t get enough, all the tricks performed by the team, including making balloon kebabs, launching Alka Seltzer rockets or turning pints of water upside down over a friend’s head without drenching them, are available on www.physics.org with full explanations.

We would like to thank our volunteers; Kate Freeman, Helen Maynard, Carolyn McKerracher and Chris Nicholson for all their hard work and enthusiasm without which the event would not have been a success.

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